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Care for Stroke Symptoms in Southern California

Stroke is a disruption of blood flow to the brain, caused by a blood clot or bleeding in the brain. It’s a medical emergency requiring immediate attention. The more you know about the symptoms, the better prepared you’ll be in the event of a stroke.

Our compassionate doctors, nurses, and staff are fully committed to personalized care for stroke. If you’d like to meet with a specialist, use our online Find a Doctor tool.

Signs of Stroke

Everyone should know the signs of stroke. If you suspect stroke, call 911.

The most common signs of stroke are sudden:

Inability to speak a coherent sentence

Weakness in the arms or legs, especially on just one side

One-sided weakness or sagging of the face

Loss of movement, especially on just one side of the body

Vision loss or disturbance in one or both eyes

Severe headache coupled with any other stroke symptom

To quickly assess whether a person might be experiencing a stroke, use the FAST approach:

F for Face: Is the person’s smile lopsided?

A for Arms: If the person extends both arms to the sides and raises them to shoulder level, does one arm droop?

S for Speech: Does the person have difficulty speaking a simple sentence like “the sky is blue today”?

T for Time: If the answer to any of the questions above is “yes,” call 911 immediately.

Stroke Diagnosis at Dignity Health Southern California

In most cases, stroke is diagnosed in a hospital’s emergency room. A doctor at Dignity Health Southern California often can make a diagnosis based on a person’s physical symptoms. Tests, such as computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), are also used to help determine the cause of stroke.

A fast stroke diagnosis is crucial to treatment. A stroke caused by a blood clot requires clot-busting medication within a period of two hours. You should always seek treatment if you suspect a stroke.